Skinny Love

Chapter 36: Wake Me Up

Matt's P.O.V

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My eyes were closed as I slowly regained consciousness. I started to hear Aviani's slow breathing in time with mine. I started to feel her hearts steadily beating in time with mine. Right after, I felt her arm around my waist and my arm looped over her. I could feel her head rest against my chest. I felt her fingers tracing the lines on my palm like Van Gogh painted the Starry Night. I heard her fairy-like giggle. Avi started to hum a tune that sounded a lot like Kaleidoscope Eyes by Panic! At the Disco. She enjoyed their music a lot. I bought her tickets to their concert for Christmas.

"Morning Sunshine! It's like 7 am and no one's up so I'm gonna go make breakfast. You can stay here if you want." Avi said as I felt her kick her legs over the side of the bed. I smiled to myself and opened my eyes. She was looking at me with a big grin on her face. She winked and sort of wobbled over to the side of the bed to pick up her cute pastel pink bra. She went over to her bag and pulled out a hair tie and went into the bathroom.

When she came out of the bathroom pulled her beige cardigan over my boxers and my white v-neck t-shirt she was wearing. She wobbled out of the room giggling. I looked around the room and saw that the pillows were still astray and the sheets were an absolute mess.

I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom and turned my bare back to the mirror. I had claw marks all down my lower back. I chuckled darkly remembering the events of the night before.

...

Avi's P.O.V

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I grasped the hand rail as I walked down the stairs. I kept giggling for no reason and I just felt so merry (hah Christmas pun).

As I took the stairs one by one, I started to hear shuffling downstairs along with hushed voices. Who could be up this early? I started to go down faster as the soreness in my legs started to subside. I was careful not to make any noise so that I could just sneak a glance at who was downstairs.

I stopped at the fifth to last step and saw who was sitting in the sleek black armchairs.

A greying man in his fifties wearing a black blazer with red on the inside sat in the armchair across from a woman with a curly blonde bush of hair.

Cheese and sprinkles it's my mum and dad, I thought as I froze in place. I decided on silently retreating up the stairs but just as I was turning my father spoke.

"Aviani! Look at you!" My father said. His voice was filled with joy and he sounded almost on the verge of tears. My hearts skipped a couple beats. I whipped around.

"Daddy!" I whispered. I ran toward him and threw my hands around him. He squeezed me tight and I felt him laugh against my hair. I heard my mum laugh behind us.

"It's been so long since I saw you last. Just look at you! Oh Aviani, my dear, you're shaping up to be a beautiful young woman." My father said as he pulled back from the embrace with tears in his eyes. His heavy Scottish accent even thicker because of them. I laughed and smiled up at him.

"The last time I saw you was when Mum disappeared and all you left me was a note at Nana's house. I couldn't remember anything Dad. I thought I was abandoned." My voice cracked. His creased face softened and his green eyes struggled for composure.

"You were never really alone, Avi. I was always watching you. I couldn't let you remember me because if you had, so many bad things could have happened to you. Aviani I am so sorry. I ask you to forgive me for not being there when you needed a father figure in your life and I'm sorry your mother wasn't there either. I'm sorry that you had to grow up so quickly. I am so sorry that you had to forget the wonders of the universe. I'm just so sorry." He whispered pulling me into a loving embrace. I felt his words flow through me like a river flows into the ocean. I felt his apologies warm me to the core. I felt my forgiveness overcome me and I felt his fatherly love just emenate from his being. I felt his hearts beating quickly and in time with mine. I hadn't noticed how much I missed his presence and how much I had resented him for his absence.

Everything was different now. He was here and my mum was here and we were all together again. They were all I wanted and all I needed, without knowing it but there was something awry. It felt off for some ridiculous reason. Something was amiss but I couldn't quite bput my finger on it.

"I really missed you dad." I spoke into his chest. He chuckled.

"You will never understand how much I missed you." My father said pulling away and sitting down. I looked over at my mum. She had her hands clasped and pressed to her lips. She unclasped them and hugged me tightly.

"Hello Sweetie. Oh how I've missed you!" My mum laughed into my hair. I giggled.

"It's only been 2 weeks." I said as she pushed her fingers through my hair. She grinned.

"That's absolutely no excuse for not missing you, sweetie." She said pressing her hand to my cheek. I smiled as she sat down in the armchair in front of my father's. She motioned her hand over to the love seat in the middle of the armchairs.

"So there is something extremely important that we must address." My father said as I sat down. I raised my eyebrows as I looked at their serious faces. My mother gave me a small smile.

"Remember how I told you that the Master was back and that the universes were thinning and that the Gallifeyans were struggling to find a link to the present so they could destroy earth to make way for a new Gallifrey? Well we expected this to take years to happen but apparently not." My father said, the words flooding out of his mouth. I couldn't quite grasp why he was telling me this and I don't think I want to know why he was telling me this either.

"Okay. So?" I said questioningly. My parents looked at each other with their eyebrows raised.

"So everything! This is a serious matter. Remember when we used to travel and save planets just by accident?" He said seriously. I nodded once and he continued with a sigh.

"It was so dangerous and still you insisted to come with me. You were so brave in the face of danger. We need that bravery if we are going to send the Gallifreyans back into a time loop." He explained calmly. I grinned wildly. My stomach was in knots. I wasn't sure if it was nerves or excitement but it felt good.

"So you want me to come with you?" I squeaked. My father grinned.

"Of course! One thing though, don't tell Matt anything. We are going to tell him about everything, okay?" He said in a lowered voice. I nodded.

The excitement washed through my body like rain in the middle of a drought. I was so ready to ride the TARDIS again.

Matt's P.O.V

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My cell rang so I slid my finger across the screen to answer it. I lifted the phone to my ear and a familiar voice spoke at the other end.

"Matthew?"

"Yeah, mum? How are you?"

"I'm doing well and so is your father but I must tell you a piece of vital information." My mother spoke in an urgent tone. Worry was starting to blossom in the pit of my stomach.

"What's the matter?"

"Your friend, Aviani, stay away from her Matthew. She's nothing but trouble. For the love of all that is good, Matthew, stay away from her!" My mother yelled into the phone. I jumped, frightened by the sudden conviction in her voice.

"Why, mum? I thought you liked her."

"I did but she's different." She said in a whisper. I was extremely confused.

"I'll explain later but just stay away." She said hanging up the phone.

What the actual fuck?